Upon examination, one finds all the Mormon
"scriptures" fail one or more of the last three tests.

5. Prophecies come to fulfillment with 100 percent accuracy.

The Bible warns us regarding false prophecy: "Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world" (1 John 4:1). In addition, we are told to "examine everything
carefully; hold fast to that which is good;" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Contrary to
Mormon teachings, which encourage prayer to receive a "burning in the bosom,"
the Bible tells us to test truthfulness of prophecy by seeing if the prophecy comes to
pass. This test for a prophet is found in Deuteronomy 18:20-22:

"And you may say in your heart, `How shall we know the word which the Lord
has not spoken?' When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come
about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has
spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)

Also Jesus said, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15) Thus we were told to
expect false prophets, especially in the last days. For the most part, prophecies in the
Mormon scriptures are either very general, open-dated, self-fulfilling, or conditional,
all of which make them untestable. In contrast, prophecies in the Bible include names,
dates and specific details.

For example, Joseph Smith predicted in 1835 that, "The coming of the Lord, which
was nigh - even fifty-six years should wind up the scene."2
The Lord did not return by 1891, but the prophecy said "should" as opposed to
"will."

Another example of an untestable prophecy occurs in section 130 of Doctrine and
Covenants:

I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man,
when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art
eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this
suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter. (D&C: Section 130:14-15)3

If God were the one sending the message (which seems likely, since Joseph Smith was
praying), there would be no need of making the prophecy conditional, since God would have
known when Joseph Smith was to die. If this were the case, then the prophecy would be
considered false, since Joseph Smith died at the age of 39, a little over one year after
the prophecy was given. In addition, Jesus did not return in 1890, the year in which Smith
would have turned 85.

However, there are at least four prophecies in the Doctrine and Covenants that are both
close-dated and unconditional. Although relatively few of Joseph Smith's prophecies are of
this type they are extremely important because they make it possible to put Joseph Smith
to the biblical test of a prophet.

Unfulfilled Prophecy Example #1: Remembrance of Oliver Granger

On July 8, 1838, Joseph Smith foretold that the name of Oliver Granger would be
remembered "from generation to generation, forever and ever." It is clear even
few Mormons remember the name of Oliver Granger:

And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say
unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation,
forever and ever, saith the Lord. (D&C: Section 117:12)

Unfulfilled Prophecy Example #2: Temple in Independence

On September 22 and 23, 1832, Joseph Smith foretold of an LDS temple to be built in
Independence, Missouri:

A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as
they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high. Yea, the word of the Lord
concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as
he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand
upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. Which city shall be built,
beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western
boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and
others with whom the Lord was well pleased. Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the
city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place,
even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared
in this generation. For verily
this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a
cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall
fill the house. (D&C: Section 84:1-5)

The prophecy specifies that the city of "New Jerusalem" including the temple
was to be constructed, "beginning at the temple lot which is appointed by the finger
of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri" (verse 3). Verses
four and five add that the "temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily
this generation shall not all pass away" before the temple will be built.

One hundred sixty-two years later, the Community of Christ (formerly the
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) built a temple on the
temple lot.
However, since no one who was alive in 1832 was still alive in 1994, the prophecy is false.

Unfulfilled Prophecy Example #3: David W. Patten

A second example of a close-dated unconditional prophecy is found in Doctrine and
Covenants Section 114, which was given April 17, 1838:

Verily thus saith the Lord: It is wisdom in my servant David W. Patten, that he settle
up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make a disposition of his merchandise,
that he may perform a mission unto me next spring, in company with others, even twelve
including himself, to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world. For
verily thus saith the Lord, that inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name,
others shall be planted in their stead and receive their bishopric. Amen. (D&C:
Section 114:1-2)

The prophecy are instructions to David W. Patten, one of the twelve LDS Apostles, who
was to prepare to go on a mission with the other eleven apostles into "all the
world." According to the revelation, the mission was to take place "next
spring" which would give the prophecy a "closed-date" somewhere around
April or May of 1839.

Less than three months later, the "twelve" were given a specific date to
leave (April 26, 1839)4 and one of the apostles, Thomas
Marsh, was instructed to stay behind to "publish my word."5
The date of April 26, 1839 came and Joseph Smith, recorded, "The Brethren arrived at
Far West, and proceeded to transact the business of their mission".6
However, David W. Patten was not part of that mission. David Patten was not present
because he had died in October of 1838. History of the Church reports: "Captain
Patten was carried some of the way in a litter, but it caused so much distress that he
begged to be left by the way side...he died that night."7
So, rather than going on a mission with the Twelve next spring, as Joseph Smith had
prophesied in 1838, Patten died before the next year even came.

This could not be a reference to a "mission" in the spirit world after death
because Joseph Smith was specific that he was to go "unto all the world" (not
the "spirit" world) and he was to be with the other eleven.8

Some Mormons have suggested that David Patten could have apostatized from his calling.
In other words, God called him to go on the mission but because of sin or unfaithfulness
he fell from the calling. There are two problems with this explanation. The God of the
Bible is all-knowing and He knew that Patten was going to die. Also, Patten did not fall
away from the Church, since after Patten's death, Joseph Smith wrote, "Brother David
Patten was a very worthy man, beloved by all good men who know him. He was one of the
Twelve Apostles, and died as he had lived, a man of God, and strong in the faith of a
glorious resurrection."9

Unfulfilled Prophecy Example #4: Civil War Prophecy

Mormons tend to view Joseph Smith's prophecy of the Civil War beginning in South
Caroline as a sign of the validity of Joseph Smith as a porphet of God. However, trouble
began brewing in South Carolina in July, 1832, when Congress passed a tariff that South
Carolina declared unacceptable. Joseph Smith's prophecy occurrred on December 25, 1832,
five months after the beginning of trouble. Few Mormons have actually read the entire
text, much of which never took place. Here is a copy from Doctrine and Covenants (emphasis
added):

Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass,
beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death
and misery of many souls; And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all
nations, beginning at this place. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided
against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the
nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in
order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon
all nations. And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against
their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war. And it shall come to pass
also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become
exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation. And thus, with the
sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and
plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning
also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and
chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end
of all nations; (D&C: Section 87:1-6)

Although the Civil War did occur, it was never "poured out upon all nations."
In addition, this war did not lead to "a full end of all nations." The prophecy,
although given in the name of the Lord, was not a message from God, since it was false.

When objectively examining the prophecies of Joseph Smith in the Doctrine and Covenants
it must be concluded that he made false prophecies. One should not expect a prophet to be
perfect since they are human. However, when they speak in the name of the Lord,
Deuteronomy 18 demands 100 percent accuracy.

It is clear from this information that the Mormon "scriptures"
called the Doctrine and Covenants cannot be scripture from God, since they contain false
prophecies.

6. Support the laws, precepts, and principles set forth in the rest of Scripture
without contradiction.10

Both Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price contradict not only Old and
New Testament scriptures, but also theology found in the Book of Mormon.(See the paper,
"Contradictions in Mormon Doctrines," which cites all the verses involved and
lists them). The following crucial Christian doctrines are contradicted by Mormon
scriptures:

Contradictions in the Mormon Scriptures

What the Bible Says

Book of Mormon

D & C/PoGP

1. One God

One God

Plural Gods

2. God is Unchangeable

God is Unchangeable

God has progressed

3. God is a Spirit

God is a Spirit

God has a body

4. God dwells in the heart

God dwells in the heart

God doesn't dwell in heart

5. Creation: One God

Creation: One God

Creation: Plural Gods

6. God Cannot Lie

God Cannot Lie

God Commands Lying

7. God's Word Unchangeable

God's Word Unchangeable

God's Word Can Change

8. No Pre-existence of Man

No Pre-existence of Man

Man Pre-existed

9. Death Seals Man's Fate

Death Seals Man's Fate

Chance after Death

10. Saved without baptism

Saved without baptism

Baptism for dead

11. Heaven or Hell

Heaven or Hell

3 Kingdoms in Heaven only

12. Murder can be forgiven

Murder can be forgiven

Murder cannot be forgiven

13. Polygamy Condemned

Polygamy Condemned

Polygamy Commanded

14. For Paid Ministry

Against Paid Ministry

For Paid Ministry

15. Money cannot save you, Jesus: the only way

Wicked Promise Forgiveness For Money

Tithed - Not Burn

Please take the time to examine the paper "Contradictions
in Mormon Doctrines," to determine for yourself if the Doctrine and Covenants and
Pearl of Great Price contradict what is stated in the Bible. A critical examination of the
verses will reveal a vast difference between Christian theology, as revealed in the Bible,
compared to the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, most of which
comes from the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.

The Book of Mormon also suffers from a lack of consistency with scriptures in the
Bible. It takes a different stand on the subject of paid ministry (see "Contradictions in Mormon Doctrines"). There are several
other areas which contradict what is stated in the Bible. For example, the Bible tells us
that Jesus was to be born,11 and, in fact, was born in the
town of Bethlehem in Judea.12 However, the Book of Mormon
clearly states that the Messiah was to be born in Jerusalem:

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our
forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed
and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of
God. (Alma 7:10)

Since this was a prophecy, it may also be considered a false prophecy, since Jesus was
not born in Jerusalem. There are many more examples of how the Book of Mormon conflicts
with previously revealed scripture.

It is clear from the biblical scriptures that none of the Mormon
"scriptures," the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants nor the Pearl of
Great Price are in agreement with previously revealed scriptural precepts and therefore
cannot be part of God's scripture.

Although the Book of Mormon reflects theology close to that found in the Old and New
Testaments, it fails the test for communicating truth in many disciplines of science.
Since Joseph Smith received no higher education, he didn't know many of the facts about
anthropology and archeology in the New World at the time during which the events of the
Book of Mormon were said to have taken place. For this reason, he made many errors in his
descriptions of metals, crops, fabrics, and livestock which were not to be found in the
Americas prior to their introduction by the Europeans after the voyage of Columbus (i.e.,
after 1492 A.D.) (See the paper, "Archeological/Anthropological Problems in the Book
of Mormon" for details and provably false verses). Items which did not exist in the
Americas and therefore could not have been used by peoples in the Americas during the Book
of Mormon include:

False Science in the Book of Mormon

Item

Examples

Book of Mormon

Metals:

iron, steel, or brass

2 Nephi, Jarom, Mosiah, Ether

Crops:

wheat, barley, oats, or millet

Mosiah, Alma

Fabric:

Silk:

Alma

Livestock:

Pigs, cattle, horses, donkeys

1 Nephi, 3 Nephi, Ether

These ideas are not just my ideas, but are confirmed by the Smithsonian Institution.
They have produced a paper they send out regarding their
view of the reliability of the Book of Mormon in the area of archeology in the Americas.
It you write them, you can get a copy of this paper sent directly from them.

Both the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price contain astronomical errors. The
Book of Mormon states that the Sun does not move,14 although
we know that the Sun and Solar System revolve around the center of our galaxy and are
moving away from other galaxies at very high speeds.

The Pearl of Great Price also fails to correctly reveal astronomical knowledge. The
third chapter of the book of Abraham says that the Lord's home planet, Kolob, has a
rotation period of 1000 years:

And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one
is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to
govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest. And the
Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord,
according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a
day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to
the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord's
time, according to the reckoning of Kolob. (PoGP:Abraham 3:3-4)

In addition, Kolob is the planet around which the other planets and Sun revolve,
placing it in the center of our galaxy:

And thus there shall be the reckoning of the time of one planet above another, until
thou come nigh unto Kolob, which Kolob is after the reckoning of the Lord's time; which
Kolob is set nigh unto the throne of God, to govern all those planets which belong to the
same order as that upon which thou standest. (PoGP:Abraham 3:9)

Fig. 5. Is called in Egyptian Enish-go-on-dosh; this is one of the governing planets
also, and is said by the Egyptians to be the Sun, and to borrow its light from Kolob
through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash, which is the grand Key, or, in other words, the
governing power, which governs fifteen other fixed planets or stars, as also Floeese or
the Moon, the Earth and the Sun in their annual revolutions. This planet receives its
power through the medium of Kli-flos-is-es, or Hah-ko-kau-beam, the stars represented by
numbers 22 and 23, receiving light from the revolutions of Kolob. (PoGP:Facsimile 2:5)

There are several scientific problems with this information. First, a rotation period
of one thousand years would make Kolob extremely temperature variable. The side that
remained in darkness for 500 years would be extremely cold (near absolute zero). Likewise
the opposite side would become very hot (likely several hundred degrees minimum). If the
Earth had a rotation period of 1000 years life would be impossible due to these large
temperature variations. In fact, if the rotation period of the earth were greater than 25
hours, we would all die.15

The other problem is the location of Kolob in our galaxy. Since it is the point around
which planets, the Earth the Moon, and the Sun revolve, it must be at the center of our
Milky Way Galaxy. However, the center of our galaxy, like all other galaxies, consists of
a black hole surrounded by a high density of stars. This combination produces extremely
high levels of radiation, so much so that life cannot exist there. Since Mormons believe
that both the Father and Son have a "body of flesh and bones as tangible as
man's,"16 they would be subject to this radiation and
would have died. In contrast, the Bible states that God is not contained by this universe,17 but is transcendent.

DNA evidence refutes the main assertion of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon claims that sixth century B.C. Hebrews crossed the
Atlantic and became the founding populations of the native American populations
(Doctrine and Covenants makes the same claim that native Americans are
descendants of Hebrews).
However, Deoxyribonucleic acid: the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.DNA evidence clearly refutes this claim - indicating that all
native American populations are descended from Asian American ancestors. For
More information, see Deoxyribonucleic acid: the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.DNA Evidence and Molecular Genetics Disprove the Book of Mormon.

It is clear from the biblical scriptures that neither the Book of Mormon nor the
Pearl of Great Price are in agreement with the facts of nature, as revealed through the
sciences of astronomy, archeology and anthropology, and therefore cannot be part of God's
scripture.

Conclusion

Why I don't accept the Book of Mormon, the
Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants as scripture

Mormon book

Prophecy Fulfillment

Agreement with Scripture

Truth in all areas of knowledge

Book of Mormon

Fails

Fails

Fails

Pearl of Great Price

Fails

Fails

Doctrine and Covenants

Fails

Fails

Fails

Mormons state the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's
"covenant church," which church fell way for over 17 centuries. However, Jesus
stated that the church would not fall away, but would prevail:

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

Based upon the facts presented in this and other papers, I would like to propose
another scenario, that is, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is
apostate, which was prophesied in the New Testament.18 This
church has preached another Jesus19 and another gospel,20 different from the one preached in the Bible. The gospel from
the Bible is simple and direct:

God is Holy (without sin, and will not tolerate the presence of any sin).21

Jesus is God's only provision to cleanse me of all my sin (He died for my sins).23

I am declared righteous by faith alone if I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.24

A person is saved by faith through the grace (free gift) of God, not by works25 or belonging to any particular church. The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints is a religious system of works righteousness, similar to that
of the Pharisees, which cannot save any person from the righteous wrath of God. Jesus did
not come to Earth to establish a religion, but to restore the personal relationship
between a holy God and sinful mankind. You and any other person can establish this
relationship through a personal relationship with and obedience to Jesus Christ. I pray
you will consider the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in God's inerrant word, the
Bible, and commit your life to the true Jesus.

References

This and all Mormon scriptures were obtained from LDSView, a
computer program published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 118:5.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 118:3.

Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 336.

Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 171.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 114:1.

Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 171.

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this
word, it is because they have no dawn. (Isaiah 8:20)
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to
abolish, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)
"If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be
broken)," (John 10:35)

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the
clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth
are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, (Matthew 2:1)
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, (Luke
2:4)
"Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and
from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" (John 7:42)

The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances
is everlasting. (Psalm 119:160)
In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the
unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two
unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong
encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. (Hebrews
6:17-18)

And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth
unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the
earth that moveth and not the sun. (Helaman 12:15)

Dr. Ross, Hugh. 1996. Personal communication.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son
also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit.
Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (D&C: Section 130:22)

But what I am doing, I will continue to do, that I may cut off
opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the
matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers,
disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds. (2
Corinthians 11:12-15)

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if
he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted,
ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the
grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some
who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or
an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have
preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any
man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:6-9)

"Since the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to
deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and
He must not see anything indecent among you lest He turn away from you." (Deuteronomy
23:14)
And the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy
God? And to whom shall He go up from us?" (1 Samuel 6:20)
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages
ago, (Titus 1:2)
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is
Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no
sin. (1 John 3:5)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one;" (Romans 3:10)
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23)

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
"Jesus said to him, `I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father, but through Me'" (John 14:6).

"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12)
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)

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